Sleeping with the Enemy
Dispatch riders had a rough time during WWII, as they were often sent out on solo missions without the support of additional troops or vehicles. The stress of being constantly targeted by the enemy and the physical demands of riding a motorcycle over harsh terrain definitely took its toll on riders from both sides. It is no surprise that when they did get back to camp or found themselves in a protected area, they used that time to get some much needed rest. Often they didn't even get off their motorcycles, but just laid across their gas tank or stretched out in a sidecar. Sleeping in this fashion must have been fairly commonplace as there are many photographs that capture this practice. Surprisingly, it is the German troops who were most often caught snoozing by photographers, although there are a couple Canadians at the end of the collection that look pretty comfortable...
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